Protests that sought to highlight the role of corporate cash in politics resulted in the arrests of 10 people Wednesday outside Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s campaign offices and a Wells Fargo branch office.

Organizers said the “Occupy Iowa Caucus” demonstrations will be followed by protests, and perhaps more arrests, at President Barack Obama’s campaign office today, and other Republican candidates’ offices Friday.

Demonstrators, aware of the national spotlight on Iowa leading up to Tuesday’s caucuses, focused on a simple message — corporate money in politics — they hoped would resonate in households nationally and create fresh momentum for the Occupy Wall Street movement.

To draw a direct line between Romney and Wells Fargo, about 75 chanting demonstrators Wednesday from at least six states asked both Romney and the bank to make their tax returns public.

They also asked Romney, a multimillionaire former businessman, to return $61,500 from political action committees and individuals with ties to Wells Fargo, according to figures compiled by OpenSecrets .org.

The bank, in a statement, said that its PAC does not donate to presidential campaigns.

Nationally, 40 Wells Fargo employees have contributed $49,250 to Romney’s campaign, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission. The Register was not able to immediately determine how much their relatives may have contributed.

No plans to release income tax returns
None of those contributions to Romney came from Iowans employed by Wells Fargo.

In response to a Washington Post story, Romney told reporters in Clinton Wednesday that he has no plans to release his income tax returns. Romney said he would do what he’s legally required to do. He suggested he might consider disclosing more financial information in the future.

Des Moines police said all those arrested were cited for trespassing, a simple misdemeanor, and released. Seven people arrested refused to leave Romney’s headquarters on Ingersoll Avenue, a neighborhood west of downtown Des Moines. Three sneaked into a nearby Wells Fargo branch before the doors were locked, organizers said.

No one appeared to resist arrest.

“Our questions have gone unanswered,” said Jennifer Marsh, 38, of Iowa City, as police approached to arrest her Wednesday. “This is not democracy. This is hypocrisy.”

Organizers of Occupy Iowa, an offshoot of the Occupy Wall Street movement, called the arrests a crucial tactic to draw attention to economic issues that include corporate greed and income inequality.

Hours before the protests began, David Good-ner of Occupy Des Moines urged people to “go big” and risk arrest to build on momentum generated the night before when about 250 protesters showed up at an organizing event.

“That will make a powerful, powerful statement,” he said.

Yet in a news release issued following the demonstrations, organizers criticized Romney’s staff for ignoring their demands and calling police.

“It is shameful, but not surprising,” said Kent Harkraider, a member of Occupy Des Moines.

Jalan Crossland, 41, of Tensleep, Wyo., said he arrived in Des Moines at 3 a.m. Wednesday, intent to “shine a light” on issues like corporate greed.

Crossland and others said Obama’s failure to enact substantial changes has been disappointing, and part of the reason they will protest at his Des Moines campaign offices today.

Ross Grooters, an Occupy Des Moines member who voted for Obama in 2008, said the president has protected corporate interests instead of the progressive values he touted on the campaign trail.

“He’s our president, he’s the one in power and he’s the one who ran on change, and I feel like he’s turned his back on what he ran on,” Grooters said. “I feel like he really got behind unions when he ran. … I don’t see that that translated when he got in office.”

Protesters said they’re excited to show people camped out in cities across the nation as part of Occupy Wall Street how the movement can push beyond pitching tents. Occupy New Hampshire is already planning to follow in Iowa’s footsteps, and hold protests culminating in the Jan. 10 primaries.

“We have the opportunity to show the country one model of how we can move forward,” said Goodner of Occupy Des Moines.